Albuquerque City Councilor Pat Davis recently said he hopes this year the city council can find more permanent housing solutions for the unhoused population, one of the major challenges Albuquerque faces as it heads into 2023.

“The good news is going into this year, the city has the tools in the toolbox to do some big things, including over $20 million in the bank for new permanent housing and other programs to do transitional housing,” Davis told KOB.

The Albuquerque City Council met last week for the first time in 2023, facing many of the issues it dealt with in 2022, including the homeless population and flaws in the bus system.

“There’s a little bit of déjà vu at the city council,” Davis said. “The two most contentious items on the agenda are going to be another veto override attempt by some councilors who want to repeal the Safe Outdoor Spaces and the competing bills on what to do next with a free fare program on the city’s bus system.” 

The councilor added that he’s a little frustrated to still be voting on measures regarding Safe Outdoor Spaces. 

“We’ve had four different attempts to repeal it in different ways, and each time the mayor has vetoed them, and each time the councilors, who want to pull those back, have not been able to find the votes to do it,” Davis said. “But they keep trying and I think this is what frustrates people so much.”

In addition, there are two separate bills on the agenda seeking to address the city’s free-bus ride program.

“One that tries to address security independently and one that tries to limit the number of people who can use the bus,” Davis said. “I think you’re going to hear a lot of debate and argument. And there’s a good chance that we’re going to continue that debate and bring that up at a future meeting.”